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March for Science

The March for Science champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and for political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence based policies in the public interest.

The March For Science in Ireland was established to support the mission of the March for Science in Washington DC in response to an anti-science administration. However, science is collaborative, international, and impacts on every person’s life – from healthcare and technology to education and the environment. This is therefore an opportunity for Ireland to publicly stand up for science, and to call for the use of scientific evidence to inform our own policies and to be a part of important national discussions.

The March for Science in Ireland supports three key issues:

International collaboration – Science is an international endeavour, and the biggest issues we face are global. Climate change cannot be addressed by national policies alone; it also requires international collaboration. We will march to affirm the need for international collaborations and the global sharing of scientific knowledge, particularly in the US where this is especially under threat.

Evidence-based policy – We will march in support of evidence-based policies, internationally and in Ireland. National policies should be based on evidence and facts, and we encourage evidence-based discussions around all of the challenges we face as a society.

Science in society – We will march to celebrate and support science in Irish society and culture. We will celebrate those who work in science and those who support it. We will celebrate everyone who teaches science, who communicates science, or who makes science part of our arts and culture.

We will work to strengthen the community of people who support evidence in public discussion and policy. It is important that the enthusiasm, involvement and support garnered for this march is channelled into a long-term movement centred on evidence-based culture. We are developing this initiative and will update this page with more details soon.

This is a march for anyone who believes that we as a society benefit from science, critical thinking, and an evidence based approach to policy-making. The Irish march is non-partisan, it is inclusive, and it celebrates the diversity of people who work in and who support science.

Diversity

The March for Science in Ireland is about people. It is about the people who work in science and those who are affected by it. We will celebrate the diversity of people who work in science and science communication, and ensure that all discussions around this march are inclusive. We support the methods and aims of scientific thought, and will not perpetuate the structures or practices that have delegitimised its basis.

Our Anti-Harassment Policy

March for Science Ireland is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. This code of conduct applies to all components of the march, both online and off.

The March for Science is a celebration of science. It's not only about scientists and politicians; it is about the very real role that science plays in each of our lives and the need to respect and encourage research that gives us insight into the world. Nevertheless, the march has generated a great deal of conversation around whether or not scientists should involve themselves in politics. In the face of an alarming trend toward discrediting scientific consensus and restricting scientific discovery, we might ask instead: can we afford not to speak out in its defense?

People who value science have remained silent for far too long in the face of policies that ignore scientific evidence and endanger both human life and the future of our world. New policies threaten to further restrict scientists’ ability to research and communicate their findings. We face a possible future where people not only ignore scientific evidence, but seek to eliminate it entirely. Staying silent is a luxury that we can no longer afford. We must stand together and support science.

The application of science to policy is not a partisan issue. Anti-science agendas and policies have been advanced by politicians on both sides of the aisle, and they harm everyone — without exception. Science should neither serve special interests nor be rejected based on personal convictions. At its core, science is a tool for seeking answers. It can and should influence policy and guide our long-term decision-making.

The March for Science champions and defends science and scientific integrity, but it is a small step in the process toward encouraging the application of science in policy. We understand that the most effective way to protect science is to encourage the public to value and invest in it.

The best way to ensure science will influence policy is to encourage people to appreciate and engage with science. That can only happen through education, communication, and ties of mutual respect between scientists and their communities — the paths of communication must go both ways. There has too long been a divide between the scientific community and the public. We encourage scientists to reach out to their communities, sharing their research and its impact on people's everyday lives. We encourage them, in turn, to listen to communities and consider their research and future plans from the perspective of the people they serve. We must take science out of the labs and journals and share it with the world.